I am a casual Lacuna Coil fan. I’ve been into them since they broke with Comalies (Like everyone else for the most part…) and have quietly picked up every album since. I don’t listen to them on a regular basis and I’ve only seen them once mostly because they happened to be opening for Stone Sour. I also love the fact that frontwoman Cristina Scabbia and Slipknot/Stone Sour shredder Jim Root are still an item.
But I digress. A lot….
Anyway, Italy’s Lacuna Coil have a new album out called Dark Adrenaline and if you’ve been a fan of theirs for the long haul then you will not be disappointed. Beginning amidst a swarm of synths and crunching guitars, “Trip The Darkness” almost sounds like Rammstein-lite until Andrea Ferro and Heavy Metal’s resident angel, Scabbia, bring the melody.
Next up is “Against You” which picks up the pace and features some blistering guitar work from Cristiano “Pizza” Migliore and Marco “Maus” Biazzi. “Kill The Light” continues the quickened pace and has a great Ferro-led showcase during the breakdown.
The pinnacle is “I Don’t Believe In Tomorrow”, a lurching riff machine that has its’ feet firmly planted in mid-’90’s down tuned nu-metal. That’s meant as a a compliment. “Intoxicated” leads the second half of Dark Adrenaline and is a great example of why Cristina Scabbia is truly one of metal’s best female vocalists as she channels The Cranberries’ Dolores O’Riordan.
If you’re a fan of LC covers then DA has a real treat for ya in the form of R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion”. Is it going to replace the original? Hell no! However, it is a very unique take on the alt-rock anthem.
Dark Adrenaline is a damn enjoyable album from start to finish, that’s for sure. Lacuna Coil is not reinventing the wheel by any means but they mix things up enough to keep their sound fresh and inviting for years to come. Nothing says that more than closer “My Spirit” which just soars with layered guitars and dueling Scabbia/Ferro verses with an underlying droning low end that lumbers until its’ epic cadence.
Dark Adrenaline is out on January 24th through Century Media. Pre-order yours here and here.
Grade: B+